Thursday Tutorials

01/27/2011

I'm still here! What's kept me? Well, the snow... sigh... oh, the snow. What was forecasted to be 6-10 inches of new stuff turned into 20 today. In the past days that I've been away from this space, we've had four storms and three snow days. Turn those into sew-days I said to myself... ha! Today turned into a stress ridden day instead. Rob was needed back in Seattle for work and he headed out yesterday to avoid getting stuck here in the snow... again, we thought maybe 8 inches, no problem. I woke up this morning to snow on the window sill... always a bad sign. With the two feet of packed snow and ice on the roof... said roof began grumbling (a weird settling sound) showing seams in places there shouldn't be seams (very different seams than I had planned for the day, I tell you) and some scary nail heads began to peep out and say hello. We were saved for the time being by the ingenuity of Rob's mom and her husband Chip who rigged up the most fantastic roof rake (they're sold out everywhere around here). I suggested we set up a small business selling these on Etsy, Chip's arms after the whole process was over told him it wasn't worth it. I will be happy to see Spring... and Rob.

In other news... since I completely missed the start of the Blogger's Block-a-palooza, I'm actually thinking of using that yellow-tan-blue stack to join a different quilt along - a support group for a pattern I've been putting off for oh, say, two years. The Single Girl Quilt Along is starting in a few weeks and I'm thinking it might be perfect for that pretty stack, and an inspiration to start that darn quilt... with all it's hand cutting. And how wonderful is Katie who developed a paper piecing method that seems well, so much easier. When feeling in my fingers returns and the snow-blower callous disappears I think I'll give it a go.

For those with a morbid curiosity, more snow photos exist here... and if you know someone (besides me!) in CT send them some love... they need it! The snow people, the snow! Happy Thursday...

I'm seeing (and loving) hexagons everywhere lately... they seem like just the perfect fire-side (yes, we had our first fire today...I'm enjoying it as we speak!) after work sewing and I can't wait to give them a go. There are a few wonderful tutorials I've happened upon in my blog perusing here are just a few...

06/24/2010

Today is my very first day of summer vacation and all I can really think about is tearing into the fabrics I've been putting aside for some planned quilt projects... free time at last! The Double Wedding Ring Quilt is one that I've seen over and over again and loved, but not one that I'll tackle this summer. The version above is beautiful and modern, and of course I love the hand quilting. The talented crafter who made that beautiful quilt spent 15 months working on it. She chronicled her work on her blog... For more inspiration, The workroom also has a set on Flickr of versions made in their class... really lovely quilts.

So this Thursday's tutorial is a free pdf pattern from Freespirit for a version of the Double Wedding Ring Quilt. Happy Thursday... and a very happy summer to you!

06/03/2010

I love all of Anna Maria Horner's work (fabric, books, recipes, anthropologie love), but I love that many of her quilt ideas are available on her lovely blog. So this Thursday, the tutorial I can't wait to try is the Folk Dance Quilt (in PDF form) seen here in lovely Good Folks fabric. I love these bold prints. Enjoy!

05/06/2010

My sister and I have been playing phone tag... for two weeks... I miss her. When you're 2000 miles away (2,810 to be exact) you look for ways to stay connected. Amy and I stalk each other regularly via Flickr, Facebook, this little blog... I still miss her. I've been thinking of sending some snail mail, we talk about doing that regularly and oh I tell you time just gets away from us. So today's tutorial is in honor of keeping up with those you love and miss. My sister and I share of love for Soulemama's blog (if you aren't reading this blog you should be!) and I love Amanda aka Soulemama's Gratitude Wrap tutorial. Stick pens and paper and stamps and all good things in it's folds and note writing becomes easy and I dare say very stylish... think I could get away with taking this out at a faculty meeting? Probably not. But I'm searching for time to reconnect and checking under rocks for my sister. I miss her.

04/29/2010

See those pillow cases behind Kylie? I know, it's easy to be distracted by that face (and lack of focus on said pillow cases, but honestly who can resist that little lady?)... anyway, trust me we have pillow cases and their days are numbered. Numbered until I can find time to try the fabulous tutorial Ashley from Film in the Fridge has created and posted on her blog, one of my favorites.

I thought I would start a Thursday ritual and post some of the amazing tutorials I collect and bookmark and oogle and am generally envious of and curse for the lack of time to try while wandering the blogs I frequent. So, Ashley's is a perfect choice to start this weekly series. The french seam looks really easy, each pillow case uses a yard of fabric (perfect stash buster for those interested in that actually using your fabric kind of thing) and calls for the hiding of selvedges rather than the cutting off - I'm sold... and thinking of using this fabric... of course I am. And because I feel like stunning you with cuteness...